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| 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F.

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MEMGRANBUM FOR THE RECORD:

SUBJECT: Pobriefing ef Edward G.

KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |

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2 February 196%
Tichbern(P)

1. Edward G.Tichborn(P) arrived in Washington from his. trip to Cuba during

the night of 31 January 1
1000 to 15.

03 (Phil Toomey) and Charles Penney frem WH Division,

hours on 1 February. Those present at

960/. Ye was debraefed at the Rotel Statler from about

o debriefing were Messrs.
Mr’@lexandor Wunter)PP/EAD, and

ie Undersigned., This debriefing was very interesting and resulted inn a good
deal of pertinent information. The three and a half reels of tape derived fren
therefrom are now being transcribed by this crffice. Some of the more salient

points are noted below.
p24

2. Some of the operational
are the following:

information and suggestions offered by Tichborn

a. There appears to be little chance of a coalition ef the opposition
groups at this time or in the near future since they are not well organized
and each group sauckt would want to be the leader of such an effort. Also,
according to the mmabers of the opposition to whom Tichborn talked, it is
the general consensus cf opinion that Fidel Castro is in no danger of loosing
his grip or the devotion of his followersx for some time to come,

b. Fidel Castro seems to becone most at upset and almost vaniced by
defections. Possessing a "Massiah-type complex” he cannot bear the thought
of someone leaving the fold. Rather than to let such defections pass on
unnoticed, he feels compélled to give reasons and wake excuses. This then
“blows bhe matter up perhaps out of proportion and quickly becomes a matter
of public knowledge. Tichborn feels that the inducement of defections could
perhaps have more effect on Castro than any other single, rational action ve

might undertake.

c. There appears to be a relatively long-standing schism between the
brothers Fidel and Raoul Castro. Raoul is the mone cold individual. As an
example, Fidel once ordered some '400 prisoners to be returned safely to their
hoges, but Racul had a number of. them killed. The general feeling in Cuba is
ghat Fidel is not a Commnist, but that Raoul is undoubtedly at least a
fellow-traveller. Developing or exploiting this schism could therefore, be
operationally advantageous. (The fact that they are brothers would probably
have little effect on Fidel who kas already reduced Mtxxmmt the land holdings
of his mother and another brother in conformity with the agrarian refor2

program and who jailed his
on an insurance dsal.)

sister, and fired a Minister, over 2 shake—down

3. Of special operatioral interest vers several individuals Tichborn
mentioned who might have some influence on Fidel Castro and hence might be of

. a
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operational interest. They are:

- a. Pather(Padre) Alberto de Castros he is a Jesuit priest presently
located in Caracas, Vettezuela, who had been a teacher of Fide] Castro during
his youth. Castro was in Venezuela and saw Father de Castro there during
which time the latter criticized Fidel for some of his actions. In spite of
the fart that this -remonstration occured in front of some of Fidel's men,

- «and they laterthe latter treated him with great respect. It was felt by Tichbern's source
. Chatted alone of this information, and by Tizhborn, that Father de Castro undoubted
for an hour. _has some-influence over Castro. Tichborn suggested that it would be of value to

determine whether or not Fidel has cny regular contact with Father de Castro
and.if so,what operational potential he might have.

b.. Yerb Mathews! he is a journalist with the R.¥.7Times and was the only
American newspaperman covering the Castro story prior to his final success.
While Tichborn was in Cuba, a front page article pa appeared in Revolucion
(the regime's press-spokesman) on Mathews. It was a sort of editorial and
praised Mathews as a “real man" and one who understood the revolution and
its eims., Tichborn feels that it might be to our advantage to get into
contact with Mathews since he appears to have the confidence of the
administration. .

rr :

Cc. ProfessorsHoscot Subject is on the faculty of the Universidad de
Villanueva and is a contemporary of Fidel Castro. They were classmates and
both were debators although according to Rosco, Castro did not make the
Debating. Society of which he(Rosco) wes the presidentOnce efter the:
revolution, Rosco attended a_sppech Castro made and after the oration, the
latter asked Rosco whkt he thought cf it. Upon hearing some criticiam, he wanted
to know how it could have been improved. Since Castro was leaving for __

¥ Venezuela ‘and the United States he asked Rosco to accompany him in order that
they could discuss the malter further. Tichborn feels that Rosco (a member of

the opposition) im probably has more influence on Castro thun Rosco realizes

and that this possibility would be worth looking into.

d. Edward R.Murrow: he produced a-TV program on Castro and Tichborn feels
that he might have established a rapport with Castro during this period. .

4. One of the contacts Tichborn made in Cuba (the Director of Tourism) asked
him if he knew of anyone who would be interested in coming to Cuba on an all-dxpenses-
paid visit in order to write articles (or other similar propaganda) on present day
Cuba. Tichborn mentioned Clete Roberts, a popular radio and TV commentator in ios
Angéles as a possible candidate. (Tichborn also discussed this matter with Forace
W. Davis.) Tichborn will mention this possibility to Roberts upon hia return to

Californic. ,

5. While in Cuba, Tichborn accidently met a young lady who later revealed to
him that she war "an agent for the #State Dapartnent®, He felt that this was a

ity gatter and that it should be brought to our attenticn for that purpose.
MrS(Toomey) did not recognize the name; it is being further checked out with WH
Division. The incident and the detaila will be made the subject of a separate
memorandum for CI Staff,

ee RR AN SAAS Oe tlle Re Hie Mk he OAD a A Nicene inet Ee te

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6. Cn the adninistrative side, #- Tichhoer will forvard by raf) his
financial accounting, one copy te the cover company and the other to Henry
_W. Darkin(F), The cover letter which was provided him thy the event that
he came to the attention of the Cyban authcrities vas returned to us and is
now in his fila. (Thore was no necessity for its use.) Tichborn inquired as to
the possibility of receiving reimbursement for medical expanses which will .
undoubtedly be incurred upon his return to California due to a possible hernia - .
which developed in New York on hits. return trip 6n route to Washington. This is ~ . ;

“being checked out by this office. Tichborn departed fgr, Los Angeles (having -boen
taken to Freindship International Airport by “enrpil—Sarkin) at about 1800.

hours on 1 February 1960.

Evalena $. Vidal

